Headboard for harvesters.



G.L.GOTTBR. HEADBOARD FOR HARYESTERS. APPLICATION FILED FEB. 9, 1912.

1 $75,696, Patented Oct. 14, 1913.

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GEORGE L. CUTTER, OF ROCK ISLAND, I LLINQIS, ASSIGNQR TD DEERE 8;: COMPANY, OF MOLINE, ILLINOIS, A CGBPOBATIGN OF ILLINOIS.

HEADBOARD FOR HARVESTEBS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Get. 1%,1913.

Application filed February 9, 193.72. Serial No. 676,561.

[0 all whom t may concern Be it known that I, Gsonor. L. COTTER, a citizen of the United Stat-es, residing at Rock Island, in the county of Rock Island and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Headboards for Harvesters, of which the following is a specification, reference being bad therein to the accompanying drawing.

My invention relates to harvester-binders, and particularly to attachments used to adjust the head of the grain while it is pass ing over the binder-deck to the bundling and tying mechanism; and the object of my improvement is to provide a headboard that is sufiiciently yielding, that can be readily adjusted to varying conditions, and is adapted to fold down on the binder-deck to permit the passage of long grain.

Referring to the drawings in which similar numerals indicate identical parts; Figure 1 is a rear view of a harvester-binder, showing my improvement in place. Fig. 2 is a detail plan view with the headboard folded down on the deck. Fig. 3 is a detail in perspective. Figs. 4i and 5 are details of various parts;

Showing only as much of a harvester binder as is necessary to demonstrate the application of my invention, 1 and 2 represent, respectively, the upper and lower elevator-frames of a modern harvesterbinder; the frame 2 has thereon a casting 3 in which are journaled rollers 4i and 5 over which the grain passes to the deck 6 on its way to the binding mechanism which is not shown in the drawings, but is ordinarily located toward the stubbleward side of the deck 6. Pivotally supported in suitable hearin s on the castin 3 is a suo ort 7 having its upper part 8 bent substantially at right angles to the lower part, in close proximity to the binder-deck 6 and practically parallel therewith. A headboard 9 is carried on the part 8 by means of castings 10 and 11, to which it is secured in any suitable manner; the partSprojeots through the casting 10, and has its end tapered, and angular or square in cross-section to fit in a similarly shaped socket in the casting 11; a coiled spring 12 on the part 8 exerts pres sure against the casting 10 and a pin or similar stop 13 on the part 8 to hold the angular or square end of the part 8 in the socket in the casting.

In harvesting grain of ordinary length the headboard '9 is kept normally upright, but in extra long grain it is necessary that there should be a free and unobstructed passage of the grain over the deck to the binding mechanism, consequently the headboard 9 must be removed entirely or folded out of the way. I prefer the latter and by the construction shown the headboard 9 can be folded down on the deck by moving it along the part 8 against the pressure of the spring 12 until the casting 11 has been moved a sulficient distance to allow the end of the part 8 to be readily turned therein until the headboard 9 is fiat on the deck, when the pressure of the spring 12 will force the socket in the casting 11 into complete engagement with the angular end of the part 8 locking the headboard in its folded position as shown in Fig. 2.

When harvesting and binding grain of ordinary length the headboard 9 is upright, and normally at an angle to the passage of the grain to the pressure of which it readily yields, its extreme limit forwardly being approximately 45 degrees from the rear of the deck 6, as shown in Fig. 3, and its rearward movement being limited to approximate parallelism with the rear of the machine. To hold the headboard in its forward position and with resilient pressure on the passing grain, I employ the following mechanism: "On the upright portion of the support 7 is a coiled spring 14, its upper end held against the face of the casting 3 and its lower end engaging with any one of a series of notches in a sector 15 secured on the upright portion of the support 7; a projection 16 on the sector 15 engages with projections 17 and 18 on the casting 3 on the elevator-frame 2 and limits the swinging movement of the headboard 9 over the deck 6, contacting with the projection 17 when the headboard is at the limit of its forward movement. By shifting the lower end of the spring 14: to any one of the various notches in sector 15, the degree of pressure of the headboard against the passing grain can be easily regulated.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is 1. In a harvester-binder, the combination of an elevator, a binder-deck, a support pivotally secured on the elevator-frame and having a portion extending over the binderdeck and substantially parallel therewith, said portion having a tapering angular end, a casting secured to the headboard and movable on the support, and a casting secured to the headboard and having an angular socket with which the angular end of the headboard support engages.

2. In a harvester-binder, the combination of an elevator, a binder-deck, a support pivotally secured on the elevator-frame and having a portion extending over the binderdeck, a headboard carried by said portion and adapted to swing over the binder-deck,

a sector rigidly secured to the lower part of the support, a spring on the support and en gaging with the sector, projections on the elevator-frame, and a projection on the sec tor to engage with either of the projections on the elevatorframe to limit the swing of the headboard.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE L. COTTER. Witnesses:

ANNA CoNwELL, HARLAND E. RICH.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

